First, determine what kind of assistance you need and want, and how much money you're willing to spend.
Second, check out a firm before you become a client. Although there are many competent firms in this field, there are also those that have limited knowledge and ability as well as little interest in helping you. Many firms have been known to close up shop shortly after commencing business. Others have been forced to cease operations due to a flood of client complaints, litigation, and the resultant bad publicity.
Always find out how long a firm has been in business. In addition, it's a good idea to check with the local Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, and the consumer protection division of the State Attorney General's Office to see if any complaints have been filed.
In your search for top-flight assistance, also try to find people who have been clients of the firm you're considering and get their opinions as to its capability. Calling references provided by the firm will be less reliable.
Another measure to take is to find a firm that's a member of a professional association in the retail outplacement industry. Two groups that are widely known are the International Association of Counseling Services and the International Association of Career Consulting Firms. Although members of these organizations are not being endorsed by this book, they are certainly firms to consider. If you write these organizations, they'll send you a list of member firms in your geographic area. Understand, however, that some of the best outplacement firms don't belong to an industry organization and some of the most competent individuals providing these services work independently and out of their own homes.
To identify retail outplacement firms, you can also order a copy of The Directory of Outplacement Firms from Kennedy Publications, 2 Kennedy Way, Fitzwilliam, NH 03447 ([800] 531-0007). In addition, these organizations appear in the Yellow Pages under "Outplacement Consultants" and "Personnel Consultants." Some may also list themselves under "Career & Vocational Counseling." When assessing a firm, always meet with the actual individual who will be working with you. It's very possible that the initial person you speak with is just a salesman, whose responsibility is to present the firm in glowing terms and sign you up as a client. Always ask what his function is. When you're meeting with the people who will be assisting you, make sure that the chemistry is right-that you feel comfortable with them and have an excellent rapport-and that they have the qualifications you're looking for. Find out how long they've been doing this type of work and what their educational and work backgrounds are. Also ask what their success rate has been, how long they think it will take you to find the position you want, and what their projection is based on.
Be sure you understand the specific work the firm will do for you and what work you will have to do yourself. For example, will the firm provide a list of employers to contact, including name and title of the proper individual, along with company address and telephone number? Or will the firm just give you a list of companies in the industry of your choice or show you how to obtain this type of company information at the library? What kind of counseling will you be given and will it be on an individual basis or in a group setting? Will the firm handle a mass mailing of your resume or a letter-writing campaign, or will you have to do this work yourself? Use the list of services stated earlier as a guideline for questions to ask about what services you'll be receiving.
Last, have the firm put in writing exactly what it's going to do for you, what the timetable is for these services, how long a period of time they'll be available to you, the business hours that the firm's personnel will be available to you, and what the total cost of the program will be. Again, don't rely on anything you're told that's not in writing.
When looking for professional help with your job search, you'll most likely meet individuals who are called "career counselors" and "career consultants." Here's the difference between the two.
Career counselors have advanced degrees in fields such as psychology, counseling, or social work. Their focus is often on establishing job and career goals through administering tests and exercises to identify a client's strengths, weaknesses, personality characteristics, and interests. They often have less expertise in the details of job-hunting, although they'll be able to give you useful direction in this area. Some of these individuals may even be licensed by a state agency or certified by a state or national organization, such as the National Board for Certified Counselors or the National Career Development Association. If you write these organizations, they'll send you a list of their members in your geographic area.
Career counselors usually cost between $30 and $75 an hour; however, in major metropolitan areas their fees can be in the $100-an-hour range. Often these counselors work for colleges, universities, and community mental health centers; some, though, are self-employed. They seldom work for retail outplacement firms. Career counselors can be found in the Yellow Pages under "Career & Vocational Counseling."
Career consultants, on the other hand, will usually lack related academic training and will place less emphasis on testing, assessment, and goal-setting. Their strength and focus will be on showing you how to set up interviews and get offers, the crux of job-hunting. Most of these individuals will have gained their expertise through working in the employment agency business, in the executive search field, or in the personnel departments of companies. Their lack of related education and a certification should not be interpreted to mean that they're less qualified than career counselors. In fact, the opposite is often the case, especially when it comes to developing and implementing highly creative and effective job-hunting campaigns. Individuals and firms can be found in the Yellow Pages under "Outplacement Consultants" and "Personnel Consultants." A few may also advertise under "Career & Vocational Counseling."
